Mantophasmatidae Temporal range:
| |
---|---|
Mantophasma zephyra Zompro et al., 2002 | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Superorder: | Notoptera |
Order: |
Mantophasmatodea Zompro et al., 2002 |
Family: |
Mantophasmatidae Zompro et al., 2002 |
Subfamilies, tribes | |
Mantophasmatidae is a family of carnivorous wingless insects within the monotypic order Mantophasmatodea, which was discovered in Africa in 2001. [1] [2] Recent evidence indicates a sister group relationship with Grylloblattidae (classified in the order Grylloblattodea), [3] [4] and Arillo and Engel have combined the two groups into a single order, Notoptera, with Grylloblattodea and Mantophasmatodea ranked as suborders. [5]
The most common vernacular name for this order is gladiators, although they also are called rock crawlers, heelwalkers, mantophasmids, and colloquially, mantos. [6] Their modern centre of endemism is western South Africa and Namibia ( Brandberg Massif), [7] although the modern relict population of Tanzaniophasma subsolana in Tanzania and Eocene fossils suggest a wider ancient distribution.
Mantophasmatodea are wingless even as adults, making them relatively difficult to identify. They resemble a cross between praying mantises and phasmids, and molecular evidence indicates that they are most closely related to the equally enigmatic group Grylloblattodea. [3] [4] Initially, the gladiators were described from old museum specimens that originally were found in Namibia ( Mantophasma zephyra) and Tanzania ( M. subsolana), and from a 45-million-year-old specimen of Baltic amber ( Raptophasma kerneggeri).
Live specimens were found in Namibia by an international expedition in early 2002; Tyrannophasma gladiator was found on the Brandberg Massif, and Mantophasma zephyra was found on the Erongoberg Massif. [8]
Since then, a number of new genera and species have been discovered, the most recent being two new genera, Kuboesphasma and Minutophasma, each with a single species, described from Richtersveld in South Africa in 2018. [9]
Mantophasmatids are wingless carnivores. During courtship, they communicate using vibrations transmitted through the ground or substrate. [10]
The most recent classification [9] recognizes numerous genera, including fossils:
Some taxonomists assign full family status to the subfamilies and tribes, and sub-ordinal status to the family. In total, there are 21 extant species described as of 2018. [9]
Mantophasmatidae Temporal range:
| |
---|---|
Mantophasma zephyra Zompro et al., 2002 | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Superorder: | Notoptera |
Order: |
Mantophasmatodea Zompro et al., 2002 |
Family: |
Mantophasmatidae Zompro et al., 2002 |
Subfamilies, tribes | |
Mantophasmatidae is a family of carnivorous wingless insects within the monotypic order Mantophasmatodea, which was discovered in Africa in 2001. [1] [2] Recent evidence indicates a sister group relationship with Grylloblattidae (classified in the order Grylloblattodea), [3] [4] and Arillo and Engel have combined the two groups into a single order, Notoptera, with Grylloblattodea and Mantophasmatodea ranked as suborders. [5]
The most common vernacular name for this order is gladiators, although they also are called rock crawlers, heelwalkers, mantophasmids, and colloquially, mantos. [6] Their modern centre of endemism is western South Africa and Namibia ( Brandberg Massif), [7] although the modern relict population of Tanzaniophasma subsolana in Tanzania and Eocene fossils suggest a wider ancient distribution.
Mantophasmatodea are wingless even as adults, making them relatively difficult to identify. They resemble a cross between praying mantises and phasmids, and molecular evidence indicates that they are most closely related to the equally enigmatic group Grylloblattodea. [3] [4] Initially, the gladiators were described from old museum specimens that originally were found in Namibia ( Mantophasma zephyra) and Tanzania ( M. subsolana), and from a 45-million-year-old specimen of Baltic amber ( Raptophasma kerneggeri).
Live specimens were found in Namibia by an international expedition in early 2002; Tyrannophasma gladiator was found on the Brandberg Massif, and Mantophasma zephyra was found on the Erongoberg Massif. [8]
Since then, a number of new genera and species have been discovered, the most recent being two new genera, Kuboesphasma and Minutophasma, each with a single species, described from Richtersveld in South Africa in 2018. [9]
Mantophasmatids are wingless carnivores. During courtship, they communicate using vibrations transmitted through the ground or substrate. [10]
The most recent classification [9] recognizes numerous genera, including fossils:
Some taxonomists assign full family status to the subfamilies and tribes, and sub-ordinal status to the family. In total, there are 21 extant species described as of 2018. [9]